My wife was driving home from work when our 2024 Outback stalled in the middle of the road. It seems like the pre-collision system might have engaged when she switched lanes, and the car just shut off. She managed to roll to the side of the road, but it wouldn’t restart.
The ‘Eyesight Disabled’ and RAB (Reverse Automatic Braking) lights were on. We tried resetting those systems, but the car still wouldn’t start. It’s got about 20,000 miles and has been well-maintained. The weather was cold but nothing extreme.
It’s now at the dealership, and we’re waiting to hear back. Has anyone experienced anything like this? Any thoughts on what might’ve happened?
Leslie said:
Could be a bad battery. Mine died at 34k miles on my Outback, and the dealership replaced it under warranty.
Maybe, but it’s odd that the car shut off while driving. It seems like the pre-collision system might’ve malfunctioned. Could the car have thought it was in an accident or something?
Did you try unplugging and replugging the battery? Sometimes the car’s security system or a module freaks out and needs a reset. Electronics can be unpredictable like that.
Marriot said:
Did you try unplugging and replugging the battery? Sometimes the car’s security system or a module freaks out and needs a reset. Electronics can be unpredictable like that.
No, my wife was alone, and the tow truck driver just took it straight to the dealership. I’m hoping that’s the first thing they try. Fingers crossed it’s something simple.
This happened to me on my 2019 Outback. Disconnecting and reconnecting the battery solved it. I also had to reset the power windows afterward. Some owners have reported similar issues due to a module malfunction that drains the battery.
Barrett said: @Gyllenhall
How do you reset the windows? I just replaced the battery in my 2019 Outback, and now the automatic driver-side window doesn’t work.
Dayton said:
What trim level and engine do you have? I have a 2024 Limited with all the bells and whistles, and now I’m a bit worried.
I have a 2021 Outback XT with 60k miles and the original battery. No issues so far. Just check your battery voltage if you’re concerned. The top complaints with the 6th-gen Outbacks seem to be bad batteries, cracked windshields, and sluggish infotainment systems.
I had a 2016 Outback Limited with 72k miles and never experienced anything like this. Now I have a 2024 Touring XT with 12k miles—no issues so far. Keep us updated on what the dealership says!
Lily said:
Was the engine cranking at all, or was it completely dead?
It was cranking but wouldn’t catch. After about 15 minutes of trying to start it and resetting the systems, all the warning lights and sounds went crazy.